DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Childhood obesity has surpassed being underweight as the leading form of malnutrition globally for the first time, according to the release of the Child Nutrition Report 2025 by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

In the Dominican Republic, the 2019 Enhogar MICS survey had already found that 8% of children under five are overweight. The report also highlights a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding, with only 16% of infants receiving breast milk for their first six months, a number that, despite a slight improvement from 4.7% in 2014, remains critically low.

“In the country, malnutrition manifests as both stunted growth and childhood obesity,” said Anyoli Sanabria, Unicef’s interim representative in the Dominican Republic. “There is an urgent need for comprehensive policies that ensure healthy and affordable food.”

The study points to unhealthy food environments that...